AVONDALE – M. Catherine Anderson, 93, Avondale, Pictou County, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, February 2, 2016 in the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow.
Born in Bailey’s Brook, she was a daughter of the late Alexander Laughlin and Isabella Ellen (MacDonald) MacGillivray. Catherine attended Bailey’s Brook school and furthered her education at St. John’s Academy, New Glasgow and obtained her teaching certificate at the Normal College, Truro. She taught in many Pictou County schools and participated in the evolution of the one room school house to an amalgamated system. Catherine exhibited tenderness and compassion for all her students, especially those needing a little extra attention, teaching from the heart. She continued to tutor after retirement and maintained a lifelong interest in her former students and colleagues. Catherine possessed a deep faith in God and was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Lismore, where she attended Mass regularly, prayed daily and participated in many aspects of parish life. She and her husband, Henry took several bus tours to Ste. Anne de Beaupre, where they made many friends.
Catherine was passionate about her Scottish ancestry, Celtic history, music, dancing and while in hospital, reverting to speaking the Gaelic language. She and Henry enjoyed travelling including, Scotland and Ireland. Catherine enjoyed playing cards, reading, quoting poetry, doing crossword puzzles, word games, knitting, sewing and handwriting, especially with her family. She kept a daily diary, written in exquisite penmanship, for nearly half a century, recording family and community events. By faith, Catherine has now realized the reward promised to her and is reunited with loved ones gone before.
Surviving are sons, Barry (the late, Margo), Maccan; David (Paulette), Plymouth; Michael (Jean), Avondale; Elliott (the late, Eileen), Antigonish; daughters, Karen (Paul) LeBlanc, Avondale; Janet (Duncan) Matheson, Fredericton, N.B.; Rosalie (George) Frazee, Avondale; 26 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Elward (Phyllis) Anderson; sisters-in-law, Grace Boudreau and Evelyn Anderson; many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Henry; granddaughter, Shauna Matheson; three granddaughters in infancy; sister, Margaret (Jerome) MacDonald; brothers, Duncan (Mary), Bill (Frances); daughters-in-law, Margo and Eileen; sister-in-law, Mildred MacDonald; brothers-in-law, Lester Anderson and Edgar Boudreau.
The family will receive visitors 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with Father Colin F. MacKinnon presiding.
Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of donations, an act of kindness done in Catherine’s memory would be a most fitting tribute. www.pkmacdonald.ca

“Whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers,
That you do unto me!
Whatsoever you do to the least of your Sisters,
That you do unto me!”